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Defendant's ‘Lack of Personal Jurisdiction’ Defense Denied

A Cook County Court will see a case against a North Dakota company, thanks to a momentous order by Honorable Judge Clare E. McWilliams granting personal jurisdiction to the Illinois forum.

The February 20th order in the John C. Clark v. A.W. Chesterton Company, et al. case sets a new precedent for Illinois residents seeking trial in their home state and offers a more efficient path to justice in mesothelioma and asbestos cases.

While working as an employee of the Illinois-based United Conveyor Corporation, John C. Clark was contracted for a job for the North Dakota Great River Energy company.  As such, he traveled back and forth between the two states. For the duration of his contract with GRE, Clark was subjected to asbestos exposure both on the job and upon his return home to Illinois, where the “take-home exposure” from asbestos dust on his clothes and shoes continued to damage his lungs.

Seeking relief from his injury, Clark sued GRE in Illinois court, only for the company to attempt to have the case dismissed over a personal jurisdiction dispute.

Judge McWilliams’ order denies GRE’s claims that personal jurisdiction cannot be established in Illinois and company requests to relocate the trial to North Dakota or Minnesota due to their location. Such claims would allow the company to put a greater burden on the injured party, forcing Clark to relocate the case.

In her order, the judge stated that because GRE worked with an Illinois company, and allowed employees to travel back into the state without establishing proper safety precautions that prevented asbestos exposure in Cook County, the case should be tried in an Illinois Court. As Clark’s injury occurred in Illinois, the state will have jurisdiction and be allowed to try the case.

The decision also protects Clark’s chances of obtaining “efficient and effective relief”, allowing him to remain in Illinois and avoid the expenses of multiple lawsuits across state lines.

This development marks a historic victory for asbestos and mesothelioma victims seeking legal recourse. Many employees who have suffered occupational exposure to asbestos traveled out-of-state for their jobs, frequently in professions like construction or industrial work. A multijurisdictional case, in which a Plaintiff must seek trial in every state in which they worked and suffered exposure, can be lengthy and complicated, causing undue stress and financial difficulty to injured parties seeking justice.

Judge McWilliams’ decision in Clark v. A.W. Chesterton creates a model which future mesothelioma cases may follow and outlines a swift and uncomplicated path to justice for victims of asbestos exposure. Thanks to Judge McWilliams, Illinois workers seeking redress for injury inflicted by out-of-state companies may be able to remain in their home state for trial.

VOGELZANG LAW ANNOUNCES A NEW OFFICE SPACE

Chicago, IL - Vogelzang Law, a Chicago-based personal injury law firm dedicated to representing victims of mesothelioma throughout the United States, announced their new office space located at 401 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 350, Chicago, IL. The new larger office space has excellent views, professional meeting rooms, a comfortable “think tank,” a memorial wall and a highly functional and collaborative space for the firm’s dedicated attorneys and staff.

 

“We are so excited about our new office! We look forward to welcoming our new and current clients and sharing this wonderful space with everyone from Vogelzang Law,” said Caylei Vogelzang, Director of Business Strategy.

 

The new office is located in a beautiful spot right by the Chicago River in a historical landmark building, which includes a gym, a cafe, and an upscale floor with conference space and lounges.

 

For more information, visit: www.vogelzanglaw.com or call 312-466-1669.

 

About Vogelzang Law

Vogelzang Law represents and advocates for individuals diagnosed with cancer as a result of asbestos exposure. With more than 16 years of experience in mesothelioma and asbestos litigation, we have the specialized knowledge and resources needed to litigate complicated cases and the compassion necessary to advocate wholeheartedly for our clients.

 

After a number of years working in asbestos litigation firms, attorney Nicholas Vogelzang founded Vogelzang Law in 2016 as a personal injury law firm dedicated to victims of mesothelioma in the United States. We understand the difficulties that come with a devastating asbestos-related diagnosis, and our goal is to lessen our clients’ load by providing top-notch legal representation.

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